Study Finds Menopause Symptoms Can Be PredictedThe number of eggs left in a woman's ovaries are like the grains of sand in an hourglass, ticking away the hours on her biological clock.Researchers now say they may be able to predict when that clock will wind down. And while doctors can't actually count the number of eggs in an ovary, they can measure ovarian volume. British researchers say there's a direct correlation between the two, and by measuring ovarian volume with transvaginal ultrasound, doctors should be able to predict when menopause will set in and how many fertile years a woman has left. According to the study authors, this information will revolutionize the care of women looking for assisted reproductive technologies, including those who were treated for childhood cancers as well as women who want to put off starting a family for whatever reason. Although information still needs to be validated in clinical studies, its benefit is most likely to start with women who are being treated for cancer and women attending fertility clinics, said Tom Kelsey, co-author of the study appearing June 17 in the journal Human Reproduction. "If women looking for some sort of assisted conception and their physicians know that they've got a long time till menopause, then you could plan for a range of treatments," said Kelsey, who is a senior research fellow at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. "If you knew menopause was likely in four to five years, you'd plan a different set of IVF [in vitro fertilization] treatments." Others reiterate, however, that the findings should be treated with caution. "Should a young woman who is 30 years old go for a test to figure out whether she's got three, five or 10 years left on her fertility? Should she make career decisions and life decisions? Are these data good enough to make those determinations?" asked Dr. Alan Copperman, director of reproductive medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. "The answer is obviously no to all of those questions. The predictive value of this test is not good enough to go and tell someone to change their life." According to the article, eggs form in a female's ovary while she is still in the womb, peaking at several million about halfway through gestation and then starting a continuous decline. At birth, there are several hundred thousand and, when menstruation begins, about 300,000. At about age 37, a woman has about 25,000 eggs left, and at menopause only about 1,000. The time at which menopause sets in is widely believed to be based on the number of eggs reaching a critically low threshold. The authors of this study measured ovarian volume with transvaginal ultrasound, then looked at the relationship between ovarian volume -- ovaries shrink as a woman ages -- and number of eggs. They then applied mathematical and computer models to predict menopause. The study authors are negotiating with a medical school to set up clinical trials. The idea would be to follow women to see if their predictions were indeed correct. While these authors have come up with a tool to potentially help women plan their lives, a second study in the same issue of Human Reproduction warned that women might not want to leave it too late. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) could not be relied upon to fully compensate for lack of natural fertility after the age of 35, the article stated. The authors used a computer simulation model to determine that the overall success rate of assisted reproductive technology would be 30 percent for those attempting to get pregnant from age 30, 24 percent for those trying from age 35, and 17 percent from age 40. SOURCES: Tom Kelsey, Ph.D., senior research fellow, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland; Alan Copperman, M.D., director, reproductive medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York; June 17, 2004, Human Reproduction |
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Menopause & HRT - information and advice for the change of life Menopause & HRT - your options discussed and explained. Information on the change of lif: iVillage. Menopause Symptoms Perimenopause Hormone Replacement Therapy Offering treatment for menopause symptoms such as perimenopause hormone replacement therapy and other resources. Menopause, menopause symptoms and natural alternatives to HRT For the main symptoms of the menopause, such as hot flushes or vaginal dryness, you will be offered HRT. Unfortunately, if a women around the age of 45 goes drn4u.com : Your Guide To Menopause , Hysterectomy , and HRT Doctor Nosanchuk discusses important menopausal issues that you need to know including sex and menopause, hysterectomy, HRT and hormones. NIH - Menopausal Hormone Therapy Information Analyses from the WHI: Effect of Hormone Therapy on Risk of Heart Disease May Vary by Age and Years Since Menopause, April 3, 2007â”National Heart, Lung, Hormone therapy, treatment for menopause on MedicineNet.com In this article, the term "hormone therapy" or "HT" is replacing the outdated terminology "hormone replacement therapy" or "HRT." What is menopause? Herbal HRT for Menopause Herbal HRT, a gentle but powerful natural alternative to conventional HRT treatment. Menopause, HRT and other Myths Menopause, HRT and other myths what women must know about their hormones. Menopause and HRT - Health Talk and You - Health Information for Menopause and HRT - Health Talk and You - Health Information for Minnesotans, the University of Minnesota. Menopause To Health Symptoms of menopause can vary. Some women go through an early menopause, and this is likely Menopause Home · Perimenopause · HRT · Natural Treatments Women's Health Action Topics - HRT and Menopause Younger women taking HRT long-term following an early surgical or chemical menopause have been asking how the WHI trial results apply to them. The Menopause and HRT - A Summary - Patient UK This is a summary on the menopause and HRT. A longer leaflet gives more details. Menopause - Alternatives to HRT - Patient UK The menopause can cause various symptoms such as hot flushes, and changes to the vaginal area. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) eases symptoms. Menopause - Hormone Replacement Therapy Menopause: Myths & Medicine hormone replacement therapy "If the doctor says you should be taking HRT, you want to know why he or she recommends that . Menopause, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Home, Natural alternatives A comprehensive treatment of menopause, osteoporosis, Hormone Replacement therapies, treatments, conventional treatment, holistic treatments, Menopause - symptoms, effects and information on HRT The typical symptoms of menopause are particularly hot flushes and menstrual irregularities - BUPA health factsheet. BMJ BestTreatments :: Conditions :: Menopause :: HRT Taking HRT can relieve some of the symptoms of the menopause such as hot flushes or a dry vagina. It can also help if you keep getting urinary infectionsor Estrogen Information - Updates On Estrogens - Progestins - HRT Estrogen Information - Updates On Estrogens - Progestins - HRT - Menopause. From Tracee Cornforth, Your Guide to Women's Health. FREE Newsletter. Research News on Menopause and HRT It is unlikely that menopausal hormone therapy (MHT, also called hormone replacement therapy or HRT) will be offered to you if you have had breast cancer. |
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